Steps to Take to Help Prevent Falls

We have all heard stories or may have had an older relative take a fall that lead to serious injuries, hospitalization, or in the worst case, a fatality.  In fact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the fatal fall rate for people 65 years and older jumped 31 percent from 2007 to 2016, making falls the leading cause of injury-related death among people in this age group.  Falls are so common in the elderly that every 11 seconds an older adult is seen in an emergency department for a fall-related injury.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) says that many falls are preventable and publishes a one-page guide called “Take Control of Your Health: 6 Steps to Prevent a Fall.”  Their first tip is to find a balance and exercise class that is specifically designed to help older adults built strength and improve their balance and flexibility.   

NCOA also recommends talking to your doctor about your fall threat.  Ask if any medications you are taking have side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, or other issues that could increase your risk for fall.  Moreover be sure to share any recent falls you may have had with your healthcare provider as well as your family.

Fall prevention includes having your vision and hearing tested annually.  If you need stronger glasses, get them and be sure to wear them. The next step is to do a survey of your home both inside and out to ensure you do not have unsafe areas that increase the likelihood of a fall.  Search the Internet for a checklist of things to look for in your home to improve safety. The NCOA suggests enlisting the aid of your family to help you keep your home safe for everyone.

MorningStar of Santa Fe’s assisted living and memory care comprehensively answers the demand for luxury senior housing in Santa Fe, NM.  Along with our architecturally stunning building and resort-style amenities, we are most proud of our loving team of caregivers with a felt calling to serve.  Please visit our website to set up a tour of our community.

MorningStar of Santa Fe offers the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for residents.  For more information, please give us a call or visit our website to set up a tour of the area’s finest senior living in Santa Fe, NM.

Source: ncoa.org/wp-content/uploads/NCOA-Falls-Free-Infographic-680pixels-0917.pdf

Be Your Best as You Age

As we grow older, experts say there are some relatively simple changes we can do to help make the process smoother, and remind us it is never too late to adopt healthier habits.  They suggest four main areas to focus on that will make a difference in our overall health.

First, multiple studies have shown that taking care of our emotional health is important.   Many older adults suffer from chronic health conditions (80% have at least one and 50% have two or more) including heart disease or cancer, which can put seniors at risk for depression.  When a person’s emotional health suffers, it can negatively impact other aspects of their health. In fact research shows a link between depression and social isolation to “digestive problems, heart failure and weakened immune systems.”  Thus it is important for seniors to reach out for help if they feel depressed and to participate in activities that give their lives purpose and maintain or develop social connections.

The next area to focus on is exercise.  Experts say we should look at exercise as more than a way to get stronger and/or to lose weight.  Exercise provides a whole range of benefits including helping to boost immunity and preventing muscle loss, as well as improving blood flow and strengthening the brain.    

Another suggestion is to take better care of our hair and skin.   Good skin care can help to avoid infections and should include washing with a mild soap while taking care not to “over wash” and moisturizing daily.  Also apply sun screen whenever you go outdoors.

The last area to focus on for better health is nutrition.  Did you know that millions of seniors suffer from malnutrition?  One of the problems facing the elderly is that as we age, appetites decrease so getting all the nutrients the body requires is challenging.  Seniors need to keep in mind that it is not just about how much you eat but what you eat. One thing that appears to help seniors eat better is to make eating a social affair.  

At MorningStar at Arcadia, we make this easy as residents eat nutritional, tasty meals together in our beautiful dining room.   We provide seniors the opportunity to socialize as much as they want by participating in group enrichment activities and wellness programs that stimulate the mind, body and spirit.   Please visit our website for more details on the best assisted living home in Phoenix.

Our mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options. We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing our seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with exceptional architecture and resort-style amenities, MorningStar at Arcadia offers residents an exceptional assisted living home.

Source: aplaceformom.com/blog/how-to-make-a-daily-healthy-aging-routine/

Wondering if Assisted Living is Affordable?

Many seniors and their families fear assisted living is too expensive but once you actually look into it, you may be surprised to discover it can actually be less costly than trying live on your own.  At MorningStar Senior Living of Sparks, we offer families a great deal especially when you consider all of the resort-style amenities and top-quality services we provide.   

To help ensure assisted living is within reach of our community, one of the jobs we take seriously at MorningStar of Sparks is to help our families find resourceful ways to make assisted living affordable.  We help you explore innovative financial solutions and often under-used benefits that may be available to you beyond traditional retirement savings and investments.  

If you have Long-Term Care Insurance, you will want to carefully read through your policy to determine what type of expenses it covers.  You will find specifics regarding daily benefits, policy limits, and the elimination period under your Benefits Summary.

Another way we help families make assisted living more affordable is let them know they may be eligible for often untapped Veteran Benefits.   Please refer to our Veterans page for a full explanation of the generous “Aid & Attendance” Pension issued by the US Department of Veteran Affairs.

We remind seniors to think about leveraging life insurance policies or selling their home to pay for assisted living.  We also offer Companion Living, in which two unrelated people of the same sex may share a suite as well as expenses.  Please visit MorningStar of Sparks’ website to learn more about our Greater Reno assisted living.  In addition, our beautiful community offers independent living and memory care. 

MorningStar of Sparks’ mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other Greater Reno assisted living, independent living and memory care options. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to see for yourself our exceptional community.

Wellness Programs & Activities Designed to Keep You Engaged

Now that MorningStar of Santa Fe is up and running, so too is our Life Enrichment Team who is busy providing our residents with a whole range of engaging, entertaining wellness programs and daily activities.  To get a feel for a day in the life of a resident at our beautiful community, please take a look at our monthly calendar posted on our website.

For example, during a day in April, our residents had a choice of activities that included joining the 9:00 AM Walking Club, participating in the 10:30 Chi Gong class, and after lunch, attending the 1:30 Matinee Movie.  Later that afternoon, you could try your hand at the 3:30 Horseshoe Toss, and after dinner, join the group for a 6:00 Nightcap Social. During the month, residents did Chair Yoga, enjoyed a live music concert, or had fun in an Arts & Crafts Class.  If Bridge is your thing (or you have always wanted to learn), join the Bridge Club or get involved in the art of Flower Arranging. Other activities that go on around MorningStar are game nights, trivia contests, and a range of physical exercises perfected for our residents.

During the month of April, MorningStar of Santa Fe also has a Backyard BBQ planned, a trip to the International Folk Art Museum, a meeting of our Resident Council,  and a couple of relaxing scenic drives. So whether you are a knitter or want to learn, take part in a cooking demonstration, join the Garden Club, and much, much more, we either have it on the calendar or encourage our residents to go ahead and start a club.  

MorningStar of Santa Fe is a step above other senior housing and offers everything seniors need to ensure their comfort, wellness and safety.  We have 56 bright suites for assisted living and another 29 secure suites devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  Please visit our website for pricing and availability.

MorningStar of Santa Fe offers the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for residents.  We invite you to set up a tour or call for pricing and availability to all-inclusive senior living in Santa Fe, NM.

Resort-style Amenities Included in Your Monthly Fee

Now that MorningStar of Santa Fe is open, we have had a lot of enquires and interest from area seniors and their family members.  FAQs include how our pricing is structured as well as availability. In assisted living, fees are based on the level of care a resident requires.  For memory care residents, we offer all-inclusive pricing, which means suite rental and care, whatever the level of need, is one price.

To calculate your level of need in assisted living, you and your family will meet with our Wellness Director and go over your medical history and personal preferences to create an individualized care plan.  This sets the basis of your Care Level (we have five) and your monthly fee accounts for the costs and time to provide the needed services. These can include help with daily personal care activities (grooming, bathing, toileting, etc.) and medical assistance.

If you are concerned the cost of assisted living may be too high for your means, we want to remind you that senior housing can be very cost-effective as there are many things you will no longer pay for out-of-pocket.  This includes the costs of your monthly utilities. At MorningStar your monthly fee includes cable TV & utilities, laundry facilities, and three daily meals prepared under the direction of our Executive Chef. In addition we have scheduled transportation every week for rides to medical appointments as well as transportation to organized activities and cultural events.  

Assisted living residents also have access to a full-time Licensed Nurse and our loving 24-hour care staff.  Our wellness programs and activities engage and support our residents’ mental, physical, spiritual and social connections and allow the opportunity to continue to learn and grow.   

At MorningStar of Santa Fe, the care, comfort and wellbeing of our residents are the foremost considerations for everything we do.  Our dedicated team, the heartbeat of our community, delivers service that represents the mission and philosophy of MorningStar Senior Living - honoring God and valuing seniors as gifted and contributing individuals.

MorningStar of Santa Fe offers the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for residents.  Please give us a call or visit our website for contact information regarding the finest senior living in Santa Fe, NM.

Santa Fe’s Newest Senior Living Community is Creating a “Loving Home”

MorningStar of Santa Fe is so pleased to finally get the chance to serve as well as get to know our wonderful residents now that our beautiful assisted living and memory care community is open.  While new to Santa Fe, we are not new to the state and have two other New Mexico communities - MorningStar of Albuquerque and MorningStar of Rio Rancho.

Our leadership team brings their vast experience of serving seniors to MorningStar, and understands all it takes to give residents a quality of life unmatched by other assisted living facilities.  In addition they are building and coaching a loving team of individuals with a felt calling to serve who willingly embrace our mission to help elevate the lives of our residents.    

In fact, MorningStar’s entire team has been busy helping residents get settled in and creating a warm and welcoming home for them.  Already we have had the privilege of celebrating the Easter holiday with our MorningStar family and look forward to all of the fun, upcoming festivities we will be enjoying together.  

In June, our community will join other MorningStar senior living communities across the Western U.S. to celebrate the Alzheimer’s Association’s The Longest Day event on June 21, at summer solstice - the longest day of light.  People from around the world will come together to raise funds and awareness of the disease as well as honor those affected by it.  Our MorningStar of Santa Fe celebration will include residents, team members, family members and friends of our community.

Please visit our website to learn more about compassionate senior living in Santa Fe.  Our community offers 56 bright suites for assisted living that include spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans.  Our Reflections Neighborhood offers 29 secure suites devoted to the individualized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

MorningStar of Santa Fe offers the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for residents.  We invite you to set up a tour to see firsthand the finest senior housing in Santa Fe, NM.

MorningStar at Arcadia’s Holistic Approach to Wellness

At MorningStar at Arcadia, our mission is to provide seniors with a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community.  To ensure residents the finest senior living Phoenix has to offer, we define health and well-being holistically and back it up with an array of services and programming that support the whole person in mind, body and spirit.

Wellness is enhanced through our Life Enrichment wellness programs and activities as well as through our Wellness Care Team.  MorningStar has the expertise and authority to provide the level of resident care that can extend the stay of residents in spite of changing health conditions.  To this end, we pride ourselves on working hard to create solutions for residents and their families that result in higher quality of care at lower costs.

Assisted living residents are thoroughly evaluated by our Wellness Director when they join our community, in order to create a care plan that is appropriate to their needs.  In addition, we do routine Care Planning Reviews and Scheduled Health & Wellness Evaluations to make sure residents continue to get the right amount of assistance as they need it.

Our care services include 24-hour Care Managers and a CPR trained staff member on every shift, Licensed Nurses on call 24/7, medication management by Certified Med Care Managers, and palliative/hospice care.  We also offer oxygen administration, catheter and colostomy care, diabetic management and more. Our residents are provided transportation to medical appointments, pharmacy services, and onsite dental and podiatry services.  Please visit our website to read the full list of all of our services, and if you have questions or concerns, we encourage you to give us a call.

MorningStar Assisted Living and Memory Care at Arcadia offers residents a safe, comfortable home to age in place with resort-style amenities and meaningful activities.  We encourage you to schedule a tour to see for yourself why our residents are pleased to call MorningStar “home”.

MorningStar at Arcadia represents the best in senior living with a unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built our foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve…all of which contributes to creating a true home for residents amid a beautiful, serene setting. Please contact us to learn more about the finest senior living Phoenix offers.

Need to Downsize Before Moving to a Senior Community?

If you are ready to move from your family home into independent or assisted living, we have some helpful suggestions to help you organize and downsize your life’s possessions.  Organizing experts caution that while the task may seem overwhelming, you need to create a plan, take it one step at a time, and give yourself plenty of time.  If you are unable to do the work due to your health, there are professionals you can hire that specialize in helping seniors move.   

It is recommended you start in one room and work from there.  Recruit as much help as you can from family and friends and set up piles of items you will keep, stuff to donate or sell at a yard sale, and things you want to gift to people.   

Always keep in mind that your new space is most likely going to be smaller so get rid of duplicates and consider how your new lifestyle will be different from how you are now living.  For instance, if you are moving into a community that offers meals, chances are you will need only basic kitchen items.   

The same goes for furniture.  It is suggested you make a floor plan of your new place so you have an idea of the scale of what will fit.  Consider selling furniture such as a coffee table or couch that seems too big and use the money toward purchasing pieces that are more suited to the size of the place.   Not only will your place be more comfortable and look better, but it is important to have open pathways throughout your suite to help prevent the risk of a fall.      

If you are looking for the best senior living Reno or Sparks has to offer, please visit our website to learn why our residents are proud to call MorningStar of Sparks “home.”  Our community has 128 bright suites for independent living and 80 for assisted living in a variety of floor plans. Additionally, our Reflections Neighborhood offers 32 secure suites devoted to the individualized, specialized care of those with memory impairment.   

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Sparks, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we invite you to schedule a tour to learn more about the finest senior living Reno/Sparks offers. 

Have Questions About MorningStar at Arcadia?

If you are searching for an assisted living home for yourself or a parent, you probably have some questions regarding what type of care is offered.  At MorningStar at Arcadia, we understand the concerns families have and provide answers to FAQs on our website as a good way to get you started.  For example, one question we get asked often is our age requirement and the answer is you must be at least 62 years old. We also get asked if couples can live together.  Of course! Couples can live together in their own suites, surrounded by their own treasured possessions, or suites can be shared by friends of the same sex who simply enjoy one another’s company.

Another question we are frequently asked is, “do we offer short-term stays.”  Yes, it is based on availability and we do ask that you commit to at least a week’s stay or a full month.  This gives you the chance to sample a life free from cooking and household chores, and to participate in a bustling calendar of activities and enjoy the instant companionship.   

If you are concerned that your parent may not get the care they need, there is no reason to worry.  Before your parent joins our community, our Wellness Director will sit down with your family to discuss your parent’s medical history and personal preferences.  From here, we create an individualized care plan that meets everyone’s approval. This plan will be routinely evaluated and updated as the need arises.  

You will also find our pet policy on our FAQs page.  We are a pet friendly community and recognize the tremendous benefits animals offer to all of us.  We do assess an animal’s appropriateness for our community on a case-by-case basis, and we have some restrictions on breeds.   There is also a one-time, nonrefundable pet fee.

We encourage you to visit our website to read the answers to other questions you may have regarding our assisted living.  However if you do not see the information you need, please give us a call as we are ready to help.   We look forward to meeting you and your family.

Our mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options. We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing our seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with exceptional architecture and resort-style amenities, MorningStar at Arcadia offers residents an exceptional assisted living home.

Learn More About Walkers

Many older adults, especially those in senior living communities, are no longer as steady on their feet as they used to be.  This puts them in danger of a fall, which can have many serious repercussions on a seniors’ health.  If you are considering getting a walker to help you move more safely around, you need to know something about them.   

For starters since there are several kinds of walkers, you should consult with your healthcare provider or physical therapist to assist you on finding the most suitable one.  They will make sure it is your size as well as the right type.  To determine size, you should be able to stand between the rails, and the width of the walker should be level with the insides of your wrists. A professional will also teach you how to use the walker and provide tips for normal activities such as sitting down while using a walker.  This is done by backing up until you feel the seat of the chair behind you.  Now bend forward at your hip and reach behind with one hand to grab the armrest.  Do the same with your other hand as you carefully lower yourself onto the center of the chair.       

Common types of walkers include a basic walker that has four legs with rubber tips on each one.  To use, a person must pick up the walker as they take a step.   A wheeled walker can have two fixed wheels on the front that do not swivel side to side or have rubber tips on the front legs and small wheels on the back.  These walkers allow people to walk more naturally as they do not need to be picked up with each step.  A three-wheel walker has one wheel in front and two in back and offers the advantage of being lighter and easier to move around in smaller spaces.   

Rollators are four-wheeled walkers and can be equipped with a seat for a basket.  These walkers are equipped with hand brakes and are ideal for people who do not need to apply a lot of weight to the walker.  However they are not recommended for people with dementia as they may forget to use the hand brake.  Please visit MorningStar of Sparks to learn more about our Greater Reno assisted living, independent living and memory care. 

MorningStar of Sparks’ mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other Greater Reno assisted living, independent living and memory care options. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to see for yourself our exceptional community. 

MorningStar Senior Living Believes in Philanthropic Work

MorningStar at Arcadia is dedicated to provide one of the best senior living communities Phoenix has to offer.  Along with offering older adults compassionate, loving assisted living and memory care, our company also believes in taking part in philanthropic work locally here in Arizona and globally. In fact, this month we will be celebrating MorningStar at Arcadia’s fifth anniversary by hosting “Life in Bloom.”  Good food, live music, games and entertainment will be enjoyed with all proceeds benefitting Child Crisis Arizona.

Our community is also proud to host and participate in fun and inspiring activities sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association and other senior-focused not-for-profit organizations.  As our other MorningStar Senior Living communities do, we encourage our staff, residents and families to join us in whatever capacity they can in the “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” event.  The 5K Walk is the world’s largest event and raises awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.

Also every year our communities across the Western U.S. host celebrations for the “The Longest Day” event on June 21, which again is intended to raise funds and awareness for treatments and a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.  Among our many communities, each one hosts their own activities, and each year we look forward to planning MorningStar at Arcadia’s own unique celebrations.   

In addition MorningStar Senior Living also feels a responsibility to serving and investing in charitable projects around the world.  One such project is helping to build and support an orphanage for Hurricane Felix’s victims in Nicaragua.

The more you know about MorningStar at Arcadia, the more you will understand it is unlike other senior living communities.   Our mission includes hiring a team of caregivers with a felt calling to serve to ensure our residents are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.  Visit our website for more information.

MorningStar at Arcadia represents the best in senior living with a unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built our foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve…all of which contributes to creating a true home for residents amid a beautiful, serene setting. Call to schedule a visit to one of the finest senior living communities Phoenix offers.

Seniors Benefit from Strength Training

Health providers say that whether you are 18 or 80, it is important to do both cardiovascular exercises as well as strengthening exercises.   In addition to experiencing the benefits of better tone and shape, “research now links not just aerobic exercise but strength training with a reduced risk of death from all causes.”   Presently the American Heart Association and American College of Sports Medicine recommends doing strength training at least two times a week.   

Many older adults do not think about strength training, and for those that are exercising, have limited their exercise to things like walking, swimming, jogging, or bike riding.  Dr. Jennifer Kraschnewski, an associate professor of medicine, pediatrics and public health sciences at the Penn State College of Medicine, explains we now have very good evidence that shows 80-year-olds are as able to improve their muscle mass as 50-year-olds.   She adds, “and this can be done reliably over a very short period of time – something as short as two to three months."   

The large 2016 study found strengthening exercises helped to prevent age-related bone and muscle loss.  Led by Dr. Kraschnewski, the study drew on data from the National Health Interview Survey and followed 30,000 adults age 65 years and older for fifteen years.   While only 10 percent of the participants met the national guidelines for twice weekly strength training, those individuals had 46 percent lower odds of dying from any cause, or all-cause mortality.   Furthermore, they were less likely to die from cancer or cardiovascular disease. 

Experts say you do not have to start lifting heavy weights as strength training includes using exercise bands, doing push-ups or yoga.  However be sure to check with your physician before you began any new exercise.   

MorningStar of Sparks’ goal is to be the best senior living Reno and the surrounding area has to offer, and we take the wellbeing of our residents very seriously.  Our community offers plenty of ways our seniors can stay active such as swimming, Sit & be Fit, Adaptive Seated Yoga, a fitness center and lots of life enrichment activities.  Our beautiful community has independent and assisted living as well as memory care.  Please visit our website to learn more.   

Before starting any exercise, be sure to consult with your health care provider. 

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Sparks, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to learn more about the finest senior living Reno/Sparks offers.

Source:health.usnews.com/wellness/fitness/articles/2018-06-26/could-pumping-iron-help-you-live-longer

Better Overall Health May Reduce the Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

As some of the more severe symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are now associated to poor overall health, researchers stress the importance of maintaining healthy habits to help reduce symptoms of the disease.  They say that care should include getting the proper exercise, and eating a healthy diet as well as identifying and managing other medical conditions.   

Studies show that “light exercise and walking appear to reduce wandering, aggression and agitation.”  Additionally getting the daily exercise appropriate to the person’s abilities also seems to help alleviate other problem behaviors.   

A person’s hearing and vision should be regularly tested and the appropriate steps taken to deal with any problems found.  They should also be routinely seen by their primary care physician along with visits to specialists to address specific needs.     

Eating problems are another common issue affecting those with Alzheimer’s and can put a person at risk for weight loss, dehydration and malnutrition.  For many the process of eating becomes more and more challenging, and they may no longer know how to use a fork or knife.  The progression of the disease can cause “nerve cell death that eventually steals the ability to recognize thirst or hunger.” 

At MorningStar of Sparks we offer secure suites in our Reflections Neighborhood devoted to the individualized, specialized care of those with memory impairment.  We understand that dining is as much about community as it is about nutrition, which is why our memory care staff and residents eat together.  Also, out of respect for our residents’ sometimes compromised abilities at the table, we serve finger foods, texture-modified diets (mechanical soft and puréed, thickened liquids), and easy-to-recognize balanced meals that taste as good as they look.   

Please visit our website to learn more about our Greater Reno assisted living, independent living and memory care. 

MorningStar of Sparks’ mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other Greater Reno assisted living, independent living and memory care options. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to see for yourself our exceptional community. 

Source: alzinfo.org/articles/diet-exercise-health/    

A Senior Living Community that is a True “Home”

MorningStar Senior Living of Sparks’ goal is to provide the finest senior living Reno or Sparks has to offer, with a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community.  One thing that sets MorningStar apart from other senior living communities is that our entire team works together to build a true home.  From the moment you decide to join our loving community, we consider you a part of our family.  

Our graciously-appointed Sparks, NV community is located just east of Reno in the neighborhood of Wingfield Springs, and convenient to hospitals, banks, shopping malls, restaurants and grocery stores.  MorningStar of Sparks offers 128 suites for independent living and an additional 80 suites for assisted living in a variety of one- and two-bedroom floorplans. In our Reflections Neighborhood, we provide 32 secure suites devoted to the care of seniors with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.     

As a resident, you will find a whole host of amenities including a bistro, chapel/theatre, library with a computer, general store, salon, fitness room and much more.  Residents also have a wide array of activities to choose from that include fitness classes, entertainment, games and special outings.  In addition, you will receive three daily nutritional, tasty meals prepared under the supervision of our Executive Chef.  All meals are served restaurant-style in our charming dining room or in a private dining room available for intimate dinners.   

Please see our website for more information or to schedule a tour of our exceptional community.  For a limited time only, we are offering $5,000 savings as part of our “Anniversary Gift to You.”   

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Sparks, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to learn more about the finest senior living Reno/Sparks has to offer.

The Transition to Assisted Living

At MorningStar at Arcadia, we recognize for many seniors change can be both difficult and challenging. While moving to an assisted living community may be the best decision for the person and their family, this doesn’t mean there won’t be a transition period. 

Many seniors mistakenly think touring assisted living communities, deciding on one, figuring out budget considerations, and perhaps selling the family home is the most difficult part of moving to community living. However, experts report it can typically take anywhere between 30 to 90 days before a senior feels comfortable in their new assisted living home, but there are few things that can be done to help the process go more smoothly. 

To start with it is important to make sure your loved one’s new home is filled with familiar and beloved objects such as personal photos, books, and knick-knacks. As the new resident, you should try to keep a positive attitude toward the move and be a good sport about joining community activities and socializing with others. After all, making new friends can make all the difference in the world. Furthermore, remember the staff is there to help and will be more than glad to answer all of your questions.

As a family member, be open to listening to your loved one’s fears and concerns. While you will want to visit, be sure not to be “too supportive” as the senior needs to find their own way in their new home. Experts say it is also important to not waste time feeling guilty about moving your loved one into assisted living. Remember it is a safe place for them to find comfort, wellness and community. Please visit MorningStar at Arcadia’s website to learn more about the area’s finest assisted living and memory care. 

Our mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options. We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing our seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with exceptional architecture and resort-style amenities, MorningStar at Arcadia offers residents an exceptional assisted living home.

Our Caregivers Have a Felt Calling to Serve

At MorningStar of Santa Fe, we provide area seniors compassionate assisted living and memory care within a true home setting.  Our care encompasses the physical, mental, spiritual and social wellbeing of our residents; and in order for us to deliver on a promise of extraordinary care – it requires the commitment of an extraordinary MorningStar staff.

We are blessed to have assembled a distinguished team starting at the top with Executive Director, Leslie Castaneda, who loves working for company whose overall mission, values and integrity aligns with her own, especially when it includes working with seniors.   Emily Waldeck serves as our Wellness Director and Morgan Leach as our Life Enrichment Coordinator.  LaVerne Zimmerman is our Assisted Living Coordinator. Our dedicated, hardworking Care Managers are the type of people who are at the ready to meet every expressed (and often unexpressed) need as they assist residents with daily care activities.   

MorningStar’s hiring process starts with heart, and as such, one of the first things we look for is character, kindness and selflessness.  We are committed to hiring individuals with a felt calling to serve and who love the idea of working with seniors. As a resident of MorningStar of Santa Fe, these are the people you will interact with every day, and we are certain that in no time, they will start to feel like part of your family.    

We encourage you to visit our website to learn more about our MorningStar of Santa Fe senior housing community including our wide array of resort-style amenities and wellness programs and activities.  In addition our many care services are designed to meet the various needs of residents and to help provide a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community.  We look forward to meeting you and your family.

MorningStar of Santa Fe offers the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for residents.  Please give us a call or visit our website to set up a tour to see firsthand the finest senior living in Santa Fe, NM.

Senior Living Communities Offer Many Benefits

As it turns out, many seniors are quite happy with their decision to move into an independent senior living or assisted living community.  In part, that may be due to the fact that typically today’s senior communities are loaded with numerous amenities and activities. As a resident, you are provided with a lifestyle of comfort and community as well as a sense of safety and security.   

When seniors move out of their family home into a senior community, they find themselves freed from lots of responsibilities.  Owning a home requires routine care and maintenance such as mowing lawns, shoveling snow, pulling weeds, and other housekeeping chores.  

Furthermore, seniors often live alone and experience feelings of loneliness and isolation.  Also as people age, many are reluctant to drive, which means they end up spending a lot of time at home by themselves.  This is something that is not a problem in senior living communities. While activities are optional, there is generally something of interest for everyone.    

For seniors who do not drive anymore, senior living communities usually offer some form of transportation.  In addition many communities routinely schedule day trips to activities such as plays, museums, shopping malls or other events.  

We also know that many seniors who live alone do not eat well.  In some cases, preparing food has become more difficult as well as grocery shopping.  Most assisted living communities make healthy, nutritious food a priority and serve residents three daily meals.  This is especially important for residents with dietary restrictions as most diets are accommodated.  

Another frequently overlooked benefit of seniors moving into senior living communities is they do not need to depend on their grown children or other family members as they did when living on their own.  This allows both parties to just enjoy one another again. Grown children no longer find themselves in the position of have to parent their parent as the senior is getting needs meet at their “new home.”

Finally we cannot forget the importance of socializing and making new friends at any age.  Even for individuals who value their privacy, there is still the comfort of having other people around.  If the event of a fall or medical emergency, help is always close at hand for residents at an assisted living community.     

At MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Albuquerque, we offer residents a safe and secure place to age in and to enjoy our many amenities and activities.  Contact us to schedule a tour and discover for yourself why our residents are happy to call MorningStar “home”.

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Albuquerque, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to learn more about the finest senior living Albuquerque NM has to offer.

Source: aplaceformom.com/blog/why-seniors-prefer-senior-living-communities/

Seniors Benefit from Life-long Learning

Several recent studies indicate life-long learning is good for seniors’ brain health and starting a new hobby or learning a skill late in life can help to boost a person’s memory.  In one study form the University of Texas at Dallas, researchers found that older adults “who took on a new mentally challenging hobby saw a lasting increase in their memory skills.”  They theorize that when seniors mentally challenge themselves with new skills such as playing an instrument, learning to operate a computer, or being taught to quilt, networks within the brain are being strengthened.  

Neurologist in another study from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland discovered that a lifelong pursuit of mentally challenging activities may actually help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.  Their findings suggest that older adults “who frequently read, played mentally challenging games like chess, or engaged in other intellectually stimulating activities are 2.5 times less likely to have Alzheimer’s, which impacts approximately 4 million Americans.”

Other research out of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School appear to support these findings.  Their study relied on interviews as well as brain scans of participants, and findings indicate that seniors who have had a higher level of intellectual stimulation throughout the course of their lives, showed a marked delay in the onset of memory-related problems and other Alzheimer’s type symptoms.    

At MorningStar of Santa Fe, we believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless, and feel it is our privilege to provide seniors an environment where they can be productive and engaged each day.  Our Life Enrichment Team presents creative ways to stay active and enhance health and wellness, stimulate the brain and encourage connection. Our beautiful senior housing community is now open and welcoming new residents.  Please visit our website to set up a tour or to request information on pricing and availability.           

MorningStar of Santa Fe offers the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for residents.  Please contact us, you or a loved one deserves the finest senior living in Santa Fe, NM.

Source: mylifesite.net/blog/post/lifelong-learning-good-seniors-minds-bodies/

Superfoods May Now Include Mushrooms

Research is being done around the world to try and determine the cause of Alzheimer’s as well as discover more effective treatments.  Thanks to that research, we already know there are several things we can do to enhance the aging process, and may even help to delay or decrease our risk of developing Alzheimer’s.  These include staying socially active, avoiding smoking, moderating alcohol consumption, routinely exercising, and eating a healthy diet.

In addition over the last few decades, scientists have touted the benefits of several “Superfoods” that may help to protect brain health.  Some of the foods include dark chocolate (with at least 85% cocoa), turmeric, dark leafy greens, acai and other berries, walnut, omega-3 fatty acids, red wine and green tea.  

Now a new study from the National University of Singapore (NUS) suggests that including mushrooms into our diets (even consumed in small portions) appears to lower the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI).  This can be important as MCI often precedes Alzheimer's disease.

Many people think mushrooms are a vegetable but they are actually fungi and are rich in antioxidants, which are known to protect cell health.  The study authors explain that, “Edible mushrooms — both cultivated and wild species — contain a high amount of dietary fiber, antioxidants, and protein, as well as vitamins and minerals.”  

At MorningStar of Santa Fe, we believe in providing residents a holistic approach to wellness that includes a wide range of care services, routine physical exercise tailored to seniors, and nutritional, tasty meals.  Our meals include recipes made with ingredients known to support brain health and have high concentrations of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.  Now open, our beautiful senior housing offers 56 bright suites for assisted living and 29 secure memory care suites devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  

MorningStar of Santa Fe offers the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for residents.  Contact us for more information regarding unsurpassed senior living in Santa Fe, NM.

Source: medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324710.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_country=US&utm_hcp=no&utm_campaign=MNT%20Weekly%20Full%20%28non-HCP%20US%29%20-%20OLD%20STYLE%202019-03-20&utm_term=MNT%20Weekly%20News%20%28non-HCP%20US%29

Now Open and Welcoming New Residents

One of the area’s finest senior housing communities, MorningStar of Santa Fe, is now open and welcoming area seniors to our beautiful home.  Our team has been busy helping residents settle in and making sure all of their needs are meet to ensure their utmost comfort and wellbeing.   

As we look toward building a loving MorningStar family, we have already had the pleasure of celebrating St. Valentine’s Day together by arranging beautiful bouquets of carnations that were later used to decorate residents’ suites.   For St. Patrick’s Day, we held a party in our Life Enrichment room where everyone was encouraged to wear green. Residents’ families and friends were invited to attend and fun was had by all.

To nurture and stay true to our founding core values of love, respect, honesty, fairness, goodness, and kindness, our community will focus on one of those values each month.  In March it is “honesty.” Morgan Leach, our Life Enrichment Coordinator, reminds us that, “Building and maintaining honesty is a key factor when working with individuals. Our Leadership Team works very hard to ensure an honest environment at MorningStar, not only for our team and residents, but also for family, guests, and visitors.”

Residents are also discovering that our monthly calendar is filled with daily activities that are not only fun but help to stimulate and engage their brain, keep them moving, and help them make social connections.  For example one day we offered Scrabble, a sing-along, chair yoga, painting class, an afternoon social, knitting club and TED Talks. Of course residents are free to choose the activities they wish to participate in but we always look forward to someone new joining in on the fun.  

This has been a couple of exciting months for MorningStar of Santa Fe and we look forward to what the future holds.  If you or a loved one needs help with personal daily care activities, we invite you to take a look at our assisted living community.   We offer 56 bright suites for assisted living with a variety of floor plans and another 29 secure suites devoted to the individualized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.  

MorningStar of Santa Fe offers the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for residents.  To get an idea of the area’s finest senior living in Santa Fe, NM, we invite you to set up a tour.